EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Carbon Dioxide extinguishers are filled with non-flammable carbon dioxide gas under extreme pressure. You can recognize a CO2 extinguisher by its hard horn and lack of pressure gauge.

Detailed explanation-2: -CO2 fire extinguishers contain pure carbon dioxide which is a clean extinguishant, leaving no residue. Suitable for class B flammable liquid fires (petrol, oil, solvents), and recommended for use on live electrical equipment.

Detailed explanation-3: -Carbon dioxide is incombustible and also does not support burning. Hence, it is used in fire extinguisher. When sprayed on burning object it stops the supply of oxygen and extinguishes fire.

Detailed explanation-4: -On a volume basis, carbon dioxide is approximately twice as effective as nitrogen (e.g., for ethanol fires, the minimum required volume ratios of carbon dioxide and nitrogen to air are 0.48 and 0.86, respectively).

Detailed explanation-5: -Carbon dioxide is heavier than air and does not support combustion. Carbon dioxide extinguishes fire by displacing oxygen or by taking away oxygen from the fire triangle. Carbon dioxide is also very cold when it comes out of the extinguisher. Thus, it reduces the temperature of the fuel as well.